Thoughts on San Jacinto College CDL Training

It looks like the community colleges have some really good CDL programs. Much less expensive than Werner-owned Roadmaster in Fontana. I would think that the hiring standards for their instructors would be better than the private schools. Hopefully, they would have some in-depth classroom lectures from knowledgeable truck drivers with real-world experience on the "science" of trucking instead of what the private schools and megacarriers are doing now--sitting everyone in front of a computer for Computer Based Training.

 

The SOLE PURPOSE of CDL Training schools is to teach you just enough to pass the test. That's it. They do not teach you to be a Truck Driver. Company Sponsored training is the quickest and least expensive route to a job and a paycheck. Good luck!

 

Couldn’t disagree more. Company sponsored schools cost more than private or community college. As much as 7k, if you don’t fulfill your contract. They also cost you in earnings your first year. I went private school, got a job at a non mega and made at least 10k more my first year than I would have with any training company. A large proportion of students at company sponsored schools don’t even finish, and still get stuck with a bill, in some cases.

 

The community college CDL classes in my state are very good .

much better than the private schools and cost $1,600 verses $7,000

You will have multiple job offers before you graduate.
Picking which company to go with is the hard part.

my nephew went thru the class and got hired , at 20 years old, by a heavy haul company with their own 9 month training program.
You ride with another driver for 9-10 months learning how to secure the load , how to handle the oversize permits, how to plan the route etc
Then you get assigned a truck, their fleet is 100% 650HP 18 speed W-900L’s

After a year in that truck you get to go to the KW dealer and pick out the color of the new one they purchase for you to drive.
They trade the trucks the week before the warranty expires .

trainee pay is 10% of gross , and driver pay is 20%
nephew made $35k trainee year, and $65k first year as a driver, home nearly every weekend .